Gabriel's Horn, Pastor George Weaver, February, 2016

Once again in 2016 we will be having a 12 hour
prayer vigil here at Leola UM Church as we prepare to observe Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Lenten Season. This time of
prayer and devotion will take place in half hour blocks, and individuals will
have the opportunity to sign up in advance to come to our church for prayer.
You are free, of course, to pray on your own at any time or any place
throughout this day or any day. However, everyone is encouraged on this day in
particular to participate in this combined vigil somewhere between 6:30 AM and 6:30 PM here at the LUMC sanctuary prior to the 7PM worship service on Ash Wednesday
evening.

Hopefully, you will choose to sacrifice enough
time and effort to be present to pray just half an hour this year on Ash Wednesday, February 10. Everyone is invited to join this
united effort in lifting our voices in prayer as together we embrace the throne
of God's Grace.

Some prayer suggestions or guidelines will be
provided in the event anyone may be wondering: “How in the world am I going to
spend a whole 30 minutes alone at church by myself?” Very likely for much of
the time more than one person will be present and furthermore it appeared that
those who came last year felt it was a very worthwhile experience. Presumably,
that will be true again for many of us this year.

Scattered throughout The United Methodist
Hymnal there are a number of prayers from various sources. You can find
these listed in italics within the index of “First Lines and Common Titles” in
the rear of the red hymnal. You might want to take a look at that sometime as
you ready yourself for worship or as you take part in this year's prayer vigil
on Ash Wednesday. Just as an example, you will find this
prayer for “Ash Wednesday” by Laurence H. Stookey on
page #353 which reads as follows:

O God, maker of everything and judge of all
that you have made, from the dust of the earth you have formed us and from the
dust of death you would raise us up. By the redemptive power of the cross,
create in us clean hearts and put within us a new spirit that we may repent of
our sins and lead lives worthy of your calling; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Another example is this short prayer dating
back to the 13th century entitled “Three Things I Pray” and listed
as #493, again in the red hymnal. It reads as follows:

Thanks be to thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, for all
the benefits which thou hast given us; for all the pains and insults which thou
has borne for us. O most merciful Redeemer, friend, and brother, may we know
thee more clearly, love thee more dearly, and follow thee more nearly, for
thine own sake. Amen.

Your presence for prayer on Ash Wednesday will be a blessing for your church and world and an
inspiration individually. Please consider putting it on your calendar.